No need to rush - Is Downshifting the New Black?

Is Downshifting the New Black?

This year sees the welcome return of National Downshifting Week. The campaign aims to raise awareness of sustainable living and is spearheaded by sustainable living writer and broadcaster, Tracey Smith. National Downshifting Week will take place between Saturday 21st and Friday 27th April 2007and is designed to help participants slow down and lean towards the green.

There is growing awareness of the impact an individual can make on their environment and within their community, both negative and positive. Tracey Smith told us, "I'm promoting simple, green living and leaving as light a carbon footprint as I can."

Tips for happier living include planting something in the garden you can cultivate and eat. Tracey's top tip is "Grow a few tomatoes or chillies on a windowsill if you have no garden; pesticide-free produce tastes amazing. It also breaks the myth that all food comes from the supermarkets!" Saying: "Learning to live within our means, by cutting up a credit card - for example, is key to downshifting." She added "positively embracing living with less is better still."

Reducing dependence on throw-away-fashion and products designed and manufactured with a limited lifespan are important steps in reducing ones carbon footprint. Buying quality products such as sustainable/organic clothing ensures quality and sustainability.

Unlike in previous years Tracey Smith will not be touring the country to promote national downshifting week, instead she will be using her local radio and TV studios, video conferencing, the Internet, email and the phone to spread the going green/sustainable living message.

As well as the core message of individual action Tracey Smith is also encouraging business to act green by adopting sustainable business methods. She said "We can be more effective in business if we travel less and focus our energy on getting our message across by another means, saving time, money and carbon emissions; corporate giants would do well to follow this lead, instead of flicking employees onto planes for 10 minute meetings."

To find out more about National Downshifting week visit www.DownshiftingWeek.com or tune into Taunton Hospital's Apple AM [appleam.com] online where Tracey regularly broadcasts her show 'Slow Down and Green Up'.

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